Para Sailor of the Year
2022 - 23 Chris Symonds
As well as championing the campaign to have para sailing included in the 2024 Paralympics, Chris has competed nationally and international in the Hansa 303 class this season. Chris is also actively involved in the para sailing community.
2021 - 22 Chris Symonds
Over the past twelve months, Chris has won the Hansa 303 Doubles at the Para World Championships in Italy, as well as the 303 Doubles and Para Doubles at the Italian nationals.
2020 - 21 Chris Symonds
Training Sessions and Competitions in the middle of a Pandemic is not easy, but Chris stayed focused and positive throughout the last year. Chris never stopped to train or prepare for an event and always tried his best to promote a regatta, even when there was a chance of a cancellation.
2019 - 20 Chris Symonds
Chris Symonds took out the Silver medal at Open Hansa 303 Singles European Championship in 2019. Chris also dedicates a huge amount of time promoting para sailing in Tasmania and across Australia.
2018 - 19 Chris Symonds
Wynyard Yacht Club stalwart Chris Symonds was crowned 2019 Sailor of the Year with a Disability after stringing an impressive run of results that included 1st place at the Hansa 303 Para World Championships.
2017 - 18 Chelseanne Osborne
Osborne has been sailing for the past eight years and in April she won a gold and a silver at the Special Olympics Australia National Games in Adelaide.
2015 - 16 Australian Paralympic Sailing Team
The Australian Paralympic Sailing Team 2016 has been heralded as the most successful section of the Australian Paralympic team ever, with Australians winning medals in all three classes they contested. With Gold medals in the Sonar and SKUD18 classes and a Silver medal in the 2.4mR at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Australia was the leading nation at the event. This success comes on the back of the team members winning three medals at the 2015 Para World Sailing Championships in Melbourne and winning the Nation’s Cup as the most successful country at that event for the second time in a row >> Nomination Citation
2014 - 15 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch
Since winning gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch have enjoyed an unbeaten run in competition that has continued throughout this year.
The pair produced a dominating performance at the end of 2014 to win the ISAF World Cup in Melbourne and followed it up by another commanding win at the next World Cup in Miami in January 2015. Dan and Liesl also won gold at their first European Regatta of the year, winning the 2015 Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, the Netherlands in difficult conditions >> Nomination Citation
2013 - 14 Daniel Fitzgibbon, Liesl Tesch, Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris, Russel Boaden & Matthew Bugg
‘The Nations Cup’ is awarded at each IFDS World Championship to the best performing Nation across all Paralympic classes. It is scored by taking the top competitor from each nation in the three Paralympic classes; SKUD 18, Sonar & 2.4m. This is the first year Australia has won the trophy, with a very strong team at the 2014 IFDS World Championships. Daniel Fitzgibbon & Liesl Tesch were 1st overall in the SKUD 18. The team of Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden finished 3rd in the Sonar class and Tasmanian Matt Bugg was 5th overall in the 2.4m. These individual results qualified Australia in all three Paralympic classes for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
2012 - 13 Collin Harrison, Jonathan Harris & Russell Boaden.
Collin, Jonathan and Russell were awarded the trophy in recognition of their bronze medal at the 2013 IFDS World Championships in Kinsale, Ireland in August. It was the first regatta the crew sailed together and made for a promising start to their Rio 2016 Paralympic Games campaign.
2011 - 12 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch
Daniel and Liesl won Gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
2010 - 11 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch
Daniel and Liesl winning Gold at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami before a win at the World Cup round in Weymouth, England.The pair then backed this results up a few weeks later with Bronze at the 2011 IFDS World Championship at te same venue.
2009 - 10 Angus MacGregor
Angus won the Access 2.3 World Championships in England with seven race wins from eight starts and he also finished fourth at the O'pen Bic Breizh Cup in France.
2008 - 09 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox
Daniel and Rachael showed great dedication to training for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics Games and were rewarded with the Silver medal in the SKUD 18 class. The pair have proven themselves as great sportspeople on and off the water.
2007 - 08 Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox
Daniel and Rachael won Gold at the SKUD International Championships. The pair went on to compete in the IFDS World Championships where they finished a respectable fifth.
2006- 07 Paul Borg & Kylie Forth
Paul and Kylie won the 2006 Homerus International Championships held in Imperia, Italy in May. Kylie is a blind amputee and the event was her first match racing experience. This is the same event Paul won in 2005 with Don Scott. In 2007, Kylie won the WA Access Class 303 Championship with Jess Harrison while Paul won the Victorian Access Class 303 Championship. Paul was the recipient of the 2006 Australian Yachting Awards Sailor of the Year with a Disability with Don Scott.
2005 - 06 Paul Borg and Don Scott
Paul, from Victoria, steered his way to a win at the 2005 International Match Racing Championships for Blind people in Italy, with Sydney sailor Don crewing.
2004-05 Joint winners Jamie Dunross, Colin Harrison, Jeff Milligan
Jamie, Colin and Jeff were members of the 2004 Australian paralympic Team and finished 5th in the Sonar class at the Athen Paralympics. In addition, Jamie provides input to the strategic development of the sport through natinal conference particiipation and membership of the International Foundatoin for Disabled Sailing IFDS Equipment Evaluation Commission for the 2008 Paralympics
2003 - 04 Joint winners Andrew Hartley and Daniel Fitzgibbon
In his first Australian regatta since an accident left him a quadriplegic in 1997, Daniel Fitzgibbon took out the 2004 IFDS Single Person World Championship. Daniel Fitzgibbon citation.
Andrew Hartley showed true determination when he became the second ventilator-dependent quadriplegic in the world to sail solo. Andrew Hartley citation.
2002 - 03 Joint winners Paul Borg and Lindsay Dalmon
Paul Borg is heavily involved with the Sailability program, and has secured a second placing at the Homerus World Sailing for the Blind regatta, and a win at the International Access Dinghy Championship - 303 Doubles event in Japan. Paul Borg citation.
Lindsay Dalmon competed in the 2.3 Singles event, winning the overall pointscore and was awarded the International Access Trophy. Lindsay Dalmon citation.
2001 - 02 Wayne Thomson
Winner of the First Autonomous World Blind Sailing Championship.
2000 - 01 Vinny Lauwers
The first sailor with a disability (paraplegic) to sail solo, non-stop & unassisted around the globe
1999 - 00 Peter Thompson
World Champion (disabled) in the 2.4mR class. Australian Champion, both open and disabled, in the 2.4mR class.